Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally involved in efforts to intervene in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, NBC News reported, citing two unnamed "senior U.S. intelligence officials."

New intelligence links Putin directly to the leaks from hacked Democratic National Committee emails, the officials told NBC News with "a high level of confidence."

A high-level intelligence source said the campaign began as a "vendetta" against Hillary Clinton, NBC News reported. The goal grew into an effort to expose corruption in U.S. politics and to undermine America's international credibility, according to NBC.

"I was astonished when I saw it," Lavrov said. "I think, this is nothing but nonsense, there is not a chance that anybody could believe that."

The NBC News report comes after last week's report from The Washington Post, also citing unnamed intelligence sources, which said the CIA believed that Russia not only interfered in the election, but did so with the intention of helping Donald Trump win. Although U.S. intelligence agencies agree Russia was behind several hacks during the campaign, including that of the DNC, the CIA is thus far the only agency reported to have reached the conclusion that the efforts were explicitly meant to benefit Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the WorldSkills Russian national team in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 9, 2016.(Photo: Alexey Nikolsky, epa)

On Oct. 7, the Department of Homeland Security and Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement on behalf of the U.S. Intelligence Community expressing confidence that the "Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations." The ODNI and FBI do not believe there is enough evidence to conclude the cyber attacks were intended to help Trump win, however.

Given Putin's authoritarian control over the Russian government, it is logical that any intervention in the U.S. election would have required the former KGB officer's approval. In the October statement, the 17 American intelligence agencies said, "We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized these activities."

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Vladimir Putin walks after his inauguration ceremony for a new term as Russia's president in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on May 7, 2018. Putin took the oath of office for his fourth term as Russian president and promised to pursue an economic agenda that would boost living standards across the country. Pool photo by Sergei Guneyev

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a service held by Russian Orthodox Patriarch Krill, right, in the Annunciation Cathedral after the inauguration ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on May 7, 2018. Pool photo by Alexei Nikolsky

Journalists watch the inauguration ceremony of Vladimir Putin as Russian President in the Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia on May 7, 2018. Vladimir Putin won his fourth term in the Kremlin during presidential elections on March 18, 2018. YURI KOCHETKOV, EPA-EFE

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with skaters Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva and other prizewinners of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games after an awarding ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow Feb. 28, 2018. GRIGORY DUKOR, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Alexandrovsky Garden near the Kremlin wall in Moscow, on June 22, 2017, to commemorate those who lost their lives defending the Soviet Union against Nazi invaders. Yuri Kochetkov, European Pressphoto Agency

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks to press after his annual televised call-in show in Moscow on June 15, 2017. Putin said during the live call-in show televised nationwide that the 'crisis is over,' pointing at economic growth over the past nine months. Alexander Zemlianichenko, AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, attends the State Prize awards ceremony marking the 'Day of Russia' at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on June 12, 2017. Ten people were awarded for their significant contribution to the science and technology, literature and art fields. Natalia Kolesnikova, AP

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk in the Galerie des Batailles (Gallery of Battles) at the Versailles Palace as they arrive for a joint press conference following their meeting in Versailles, near Paris, France on May 29, 2017. The meeting comes in the wake of the Group of Seven's summit over the weekend where relations with Russia were part of the agenda, making Macron the first Western leader to speak to Putin after the talks. Pool photo by Stephane de Sakutin

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during a military parade in Moscow, Russia, on May 9 2017. Russia celebrates the 72nd anniversary of the victory over the Nazi Germany in World War II on May 9, 2017. Pool photo by Yuri Kochetkov

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, holds a sword while listening to the head of Russian First Channel Konstantin Ernst during his meeting with the crew of the historical action film "Viking," in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 30, 2016. The movie is an historical action film based on the historical document Primary Chronicle and the Icelandic Kings' sagas. Pool photo by Mikhail Klimentyev

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk during their meeting at Taj Exotica hotel in Goa on October 15, 2016.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed lucrative defense and energy pacts on October 15 following talks aimed at reinvigorating ties between the former Cold-War allies. Konstantin Zavrajin, AFP/Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in the Business Russia Congress in Moscow on October 18, 2016. The event is organized by the All-Russian public organization Delovaya Rossiya. Pool photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko

Russia's President Vladimir Putin waits for other leaders to take their spots for the traditional "family photo" on the final day of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit at the Lima Convention Centre in Lima on November 20, 2016. Brendan Smialowski, AFP/Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin plays with an official match ball for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, named "Krasava," after a meeting with FIFA president on November 25, 2016 at the Kremlin in Moscow. Alexey Druzhinin, AFP/Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin pays his respects to slain Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, during the funeral ceremony at the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow on December 22, 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin bade farewell to Andrei Karlov at a packed memorial ceremony in Moscow for the diplomat who was assassinated in Turkey by an off-duty policeman. Alexei Nikolsky, AFP/Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, right, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on December 29, 2016.
Putin said on December 29, 2016 in televised comments that Damascus and the bulk of the armed opposition had signed a document on a ceasefire in Syria and also an announcement on their readiness to start peace negotiations. Michael Klimentyev, AFP/Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, share a light moment during their visit to the Kodokan judo hall in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 16, 2016. Russia and Japan will hold talks on joint economic development on four islands at the center of a territorial dispute between the countries. Putin is well-known for practicing judo. Pool photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev walk after president's state-of-the-nation address in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 1, 2016. In a conciliatory state-of-the-nation address, President Vladimir Putin voiced hope for mending a rift with the U.S. and pooling efforts in fighting terrorism. Pool photo by Dmitry Astakhov

Left to right, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Kazakhstan's President and Supreme Eurasian Economic Council Chairman Nursultan Nazarbayev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kyrgyzstan's President Almazbek Atambayev and Eurasian Economic Commission Board Chairman Tigran Sarkisyan pose for a picture prior to the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia on December 26, 2016. The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization of regional economic integration. Anatoly Maltsev, European Pressphoto Agency

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the All-Russia People's Front forum in Moscow on Nov. 22, 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin created the All-Russia People's Front in 2011, it brings together nongovernmental organizations, youth groups, and business associations along with the ruling party. Sergei Ilnitsky, European Pressphoto Agency

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Russian and foreign cultural figures that are implementing joint projects, in the Mariinsky Theater during his visit in St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 2, 2016. Pool photo by Michael Klimentyev

Journalists try to attract Russian President Vladimir Putin's attention during Putin's annual press conference in International Trade Center in Moscow, Russia, on December 23, 2016. A total of 1,437 journalist from all regions of Russia are accredited at the press conference. Yuri Kochetkov, European Pressphoto Agency

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the commissioning of the YaMZ-530 gas engines serial production at Avtodizel, PJSC in Yaroslavl, Russia, on November 12, 2016. Pool photo by Michael Klimentyev

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a glass during a ceremony of receiving diplomatic credentials from foreign ambassadors at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on November 9, 2016. Pool photo by Sergei Karpukhin

Russian President Vladimir Putin plays with his dog Yume before being interviewed by Nippon Television Network Corporation and Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper ahead of his official visit to Japan in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on December 7, 2016. Pool photo by Alexei Druzhinin

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with U.S. actor Steven Seagal at the Kremlin in Moscow on November 25, 2016. The Russian President handed a Russian passport to Seagal and congratulated him on receiving Russian citizenship. Pool photo by Alexei Druzhinin

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the Przewalski's horse re-introduction center at the Orenburg Nature Reserve, Russia, on October 3, 2016. Vladimir Putin is on a working trip to Orenburg region. Pool photo by Alexei Druzhinin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev attend an unveiling of a monument to St. Prince Vladimir in front of Kremlin in Moscow on Nov. 4, 2016. The Russian President inaugurated a monument to Vladimir the Great, a Slavic prince who Christianized large swathes of what is now Russia and Ukraine over a thousand years ago. The statue of St. Vladimir holding a cross, which stands at 58 feet tall, became a center of controversy last year when authorities announced it would be installed on the Moscow State University's campus. Sergei Chirikov, European Pressphoto Agency

Russian President Vladimir Putin walks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel upon his arrival to discuss the Ukrainian peace process at the Chancellery on October 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Sean Gallup, Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting to discuss the Ukrainian peace process at the German federal Chancellery on October 19, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany, known as the Normandy Four, met in Berlin to discuss implementation of the peace plan known as the Minsk Protocol, a roadmap for resolving the conflict in Ukraine after Russian forces invaded in 2014 and annexed the peninsula of Crimea. Adam Berry, Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with workers during a visit to the construction site of a transport overpass over the Kerch Strait from the Russian Krasnodar region coast to Crimea, in Kerch, Crimea, on Sept 15, 2016. ALEXANDER ASTAFYEV/GOVERNMENTAL PRESS SERVICE

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev watch fishermen work as they visit Lipno Island at the Ilmen Lake in the Novgorod region in Russia on Sept. 10, 2016. Dmitry Astakhov, AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a Commonwealth of Independent States leaders summit at the Ala-Archa state residence in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Sept. 16, 2016. Vyacheslav Oseledko, AFP/Getty Images

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A woman watches TV showingVladimirPutin speaking about the situation in Ukraine in Moscow. Putin met with journalists at his residence outside Moscow to explain his position on the Ukrainian events, saying that he sees no need to send Russian troops to Ukraine now. Yuri Kochetkoc, EPA

Putin, center, shakes hands with the commander of the Western Military District Anatoly Sidorov, right, upon his arrival to watch military exercises near St. Petersburg, Russia, on March 3. Mikhail Klimentyev, AP

Flanked by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, and the commander of the Western Military District Anatoly Sidorov, Putin arrives March 3 to watch military exercise near St.Petersburg, Russia. Mikhail Klimentyev, AP

Putin attends a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall to mark the Defenders of the Fatherland Day holiday in Moscow on Feb. 23. Alexei Druzhinin, AFP/Getty Images